The Frogs were a group of African American men who were theatrical professionals. George Walker was the first president, J.R. Johnson vice president, Jesse Shipp treasurer, James Reese Europe librarian, and Bert Williams head of the art committee. The purpose of the group was to form an archival collection of social, historical, and literary materials for a theatrical library.

The Frogs, supposedly named after characters in a play by Aristophanes and stories by Aesop, meant for the club's name to symbolize responsibility and dignity. They were greatly respected in Harlem as a professional club, and admitted lawyers and doctors as well as theartrical people. Besides raising money, the Frogs were best known for a popular annual dance and vaudeville review, the "Frolic of the Frogs," which took place at the Manhattan Casino.

Reverend Powell was born in Virginia in 1865, attended Virginia Union University, and was pastor in churches in St. Paul, Philadelphia, and New Haven before being named pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in December 1908. Reverend Powell was a charismatic preacher who substantially increased the congregation. He raised money for and oversaw construction of a new church in Harlem, built one of the first community centers for the neighborhood, and established a social/religious education program.

Reverend Powell was also active outside of his community in Harlem. He lectured at colleges and universities on race relations, was a founder of the National Urban League, and was an early leader in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. His son, Adam Clayton Powell Jr., was the first African-American to represent New York in Congress.